The British and French frigate action represented in this painting was desperately fought. The frigates were accompanied by cutters, the 'Quebec', 32 guns, by the 'Rambler', 10 guns, and the 'Surveillante', 36 guns, by the 'Expedition', 10 guns. The frigates sighted each other at dawn off Ushant and the 'Quebec', up-wind of the 'Surveillante', ran down on her, while the Frenchman sailed close to the wind to await her. Close and furious action ensued for over three hours, after which both the damage and the heavy swell combined to bring down the masts of both vessels. In the 'Surveillante', the masts fell over the side; in the 'Quebec' they fell forward, over the decks and guns, making it difficult for the ship to fight, and the firing of her guns on the quarter-deck started a fire in the sails and tackle. As the fire raged through the 'Quebec', efforts were made by both the British and French to rescue the crew. The 'Rambler', which had been disabled aloft in action with the 'Expedition', sent a boat. The heavy swell made rescuing the crew difficult. The 'Rambler's' boat saved a master's mate, two midshipmen and 14 sailors, while the 'Surveillante' saved the First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant of marines, the surgeon and 36 of the crew. Thirteen more were saved by a passing Russian ship, but 127 others were lost.